Penguins 1, Avalanche 0 (OT)
Blake Comeau scored at 2:24 of overtime to back Marc-Andre Fleury's 34th career shutout as host Pittsburgh outlasted Colorado.
Defenseman Rob Scuderi unleashed a slap shot from the left point that was deflected by Evgeni Malkin and stopped by Calvin Pickard, but Comeau poked home the rebound with his backhand. The victory gave the Penguins their first back-to-back wins since Nov. 29-Dec. 2.
Fleury, who was cleared to play earlier Thursday after undergoing testing for the mumps, made 29 saves for his league-leading sixth shutout as Pittsburgh welcomed back superstar captain Sidney Crosby from a three-game absence (mumps). The Avalanche, kicking off a three-game road trip, lost for the sixth time in seven contests (1-3-3).
The Penguins unleashed a season-high 48 shots but were unable to dent Pickard (47 saves) until Comeau struck. The rookie netminder turned aside 16 shots in the second period and 19 more in the third to keep it scoreless.
Following a lackluster first period, the teams combined for 31 shots in a fast-paced second session. Pickard withstood heavy pressure in the final minutes of the period and made his biggest stop early in the third, flashing his glove to deny Crosby on a breakaway off a lob pass from Malkin.
GAME NOTEBOOK: While Fleury was allowed to return, the Penguins still were awaiting results on Ds Olli Maatta and Robert Bortuzzo while backup G Thomas Greiss was quarantined after undergoing preliminary testing for the mumps. ... Avalanche D Brad Stuart, who had been sidelined since Nov. 4 due to a hamstring injury, returned to the lineup and appeared in his 1,000th career game. ... Penguins D Christian Ehrhoff (undisclosed) did not return to the bench after the first period